Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Friday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 22nd May 2026
Last updated
Thu 21st May 26 at
4:04PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Scotland; Strong, gusty south-westerly with extensive low cloud and patchy rain and drizzle. Tending to ease off for many hills, with rising cloud bases. England and Wales: South-west winds, but mostly dry with warm sunshine, some cloud banks, mostly coastal hills.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Blustery southwest winds. Hill fog with patchy rain morning. Improving afternoon.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 30-40mph; gusty, downslope too. Easing, to 20-30mph, staying gusty on tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking, particularly early, balance affected in gusts including low terrain; feeling chilly. Easing somewhat.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, later substantially dry
Patchy rain here and there in the morning, this largely fading for dry hills; some risk of spotty rain continuing to affect Monadhliath/west Cairngorms at times, and some lingering drizzle in cloud as well.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive morning, rising and breaking afternoon.
Fog banks at various heights southern and western hills at dawn, into glens; northern Cairngorms best breaks, but tops probably covered. Cloud lifts upslope though morning, 800-900m by midday, and further lifting afternoon, mostly above 1100m. Northeast aspects often stay clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% lifting to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often cloudy, some sunny glimpses north and east but weakened by high cloud. Very good visibility where out of fog and any rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C rising to 11 or 12C, mildest north Cairngorms. Feeling just above freezing in early wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 23rd May 2026
Last updated
Thu 21st May 26 at
4:04PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-30mph, gusts approaching 35mph over high terrain. Some risk of rising speeds later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded in exposure most of the day, buffeting gusts affecting balance and walking at times strenuous.
How Wet?
Rain unlikely
Small chance an odd spot of drizzly rain affecting westernmost hills, but likely entirely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable early, lifting to summits
Variable cloud banks, mostly south and west hills in the morning; tops probably shrouded. Cloud lifting and breaking by afternoon, just passing banks on summits, and perhaps largely clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, longer windows too, but weakened by high cloud. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, rising to 9 or 10C; always mildest east, locally 11C Glen Avon. Feeling near freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 24th May 2026
Last updated
Thu 21st May 26 at
4:04PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to south-westerly 15 to 30mph, perhaps reaching 40mph some cols and summits at times.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for blustery conditions, perhaps arduous at times some cols and summits with marked buffeting.
How Wet?
Very likely dry
Mostly dry, bar the odd spot of rain in the wind; spill over from the west.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly above tops
Persistent banks may cover tops, mainly towards Ben Alder. Otherwise, elsewhere, patches skimming tops at times, but often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloud thinning and breaking to reveal some sun, mostly through high cloud. Visibility mostly very good or excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 to 12C, highest in the east.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Pressure builds this weekend, centred over England and Wales where it will be warm and sunny. To the north of the high, a blustery and gusty south-westerly will persist across the Highlands with patchy rain and hill fog,mainly in the west and northwest. Very warm by Sunday and Monday valleys of Wales and England, mid to high 20s. Low 20s glens into southern and eastern Scotland. Next week, high pressure extends over Scotland, cutting of the low cloud and drizzle from northwest Scotland by midweek. Warm sunshine with light winds, still very warm into the valleys of England and Wales, although cooling down later in the week when a gusty easterly may develop for Wales and Pennines.